Lock for switch safety boxes



Nov. s, 1923.

` B. B. WHITE LOCK FOR SWITCH SAFETY BOXES Filed July 1. 192i FIGA- Patented Nov, 6, 1923.

UNITED-,STATES PATNT OFFICE.

BENJAMIN B. WHITE, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO ARMSTRONG & WHITE, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

LOCK FOR SWITCH SAFETY BOXES.

Application iled \Ju1y 1,

To all lwhom t may cof/wem:

of Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have lnvented al new and useful Improvement in Locks for Switch Safety Boxes, ofwhich the lfollowing is a specification.

The invention relates to a lock for switch safet boxes or the locking means for switc es of the enclosed type.

i The objects of theinvention are to provide a secure and reliable form of lock for temporarily or permanently holding the switch box closed and to enable the use of the lock for also securing the switch in either its open or closed positions, andwhich 1s adapted for such-purpose regardless of the positioning'of the switch mechamsm withm the box. l

Further objects are to provide such a. device which is very simple, easy to manu facture-and repair and one having a mm1- mum of parts projecting beyond the surfaces of the box enclosing the switch mechanism proper.

A special object is to so construct the. locking means that the parts thereof will be flush with the box surface so as to present an unobstructed surface to the switch shifting leverA when the same is not secured mentary sectional view on line III-III of Fig. 1; and Fig. 4 a view similar to Fig. 3 with the box cover open and the spruig clip flexed to a position to permit passage of the switch arm to its locked osition.

The switch box disclose consists of a body portion 1 and a cover 2 hingedly secured to the box bod at 3.

The body is provi ed with a de ression 4 in which 1s mounted a sprin cip 5, the same being securely fastened y anysuitable means such as riveting as indicated atv 6. The outer end 7 of the clip extends beyond the box body proper, and is adapted to project through an opening 8 in the cover when the same is in closed position, there being a lip 9 on the clip for retaining the cover in its closed position in a well known manner. A bulge 10 is formed intermediate the ends of the clip 5 and is adapted to ref ceive the end of the switch operating lever 11 to lock the switch in open position as shown in full lines in Fig. 1 wherein the switch mechanism is indicated at 12, the details of which form no part'of the present invention.

The lever 11 is passed between the side of the box body and the clip by flexing the latter to the position shown in Fig. 4 after which it is released and allowed to spring back toits normal position against the side of the box as clearly illustrated in Fig. 3.

For the purpose of preventing unauthorized actuation of the switch after it has been shifted, the hasp of a padlock is passed through the aperture 14 adjacent the end of the clip thus securely locking both the box cover and switch lever.

In case it be desirable to fasten the switch lever after it has been moved to a position to close' the switch as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1, a spring clip 15 similar to clip 5 may be used. In case the parts of the switch 12 are reversed, that is, faced in the opposite direction from that illustrated in Fig. 1', the clip 15 will obviously serve to hold the switch in closed position. The means for attaching a padlock has been omitted from the clip' 15 since the cover 2 may be locked by the padlock 13 on clip 5, as before, thus preventing removal of the switch lever after'it has been set to be embraced by the bulged portion 10 of clip 15.

When it is not desired to keep the switch lever locked, the same is withdrawn from the position shown in Figs. 1 and 3 by fiexin the spring clip away fromthe body of the box, swinging the lever 11 from behind the clip, allowing the clip to spring back into its normal position, after which the lever 11 is free to move between the bulges l() and 10 which serve as limiting stops for the same. The position which the lever assumes when unlocked is indicated by the dotted lines 11 in Fig. 3.

The thickness of the spring clips and the depth of the depressions in which they are mounted correspond so that the box body presents a smooth exterior except for the bulges 10 and 10 acting as limiting stops.

It is thus seen that the invention provides a simple and efficient means for holding or locking the switch'box cover, which means may be employed for limiting the throw of the switch lever when in unlocked condition, and in case it is desired to lock the said lever may be employed for that purpose.

I claim:

1. A switch box comprising a box body, a movable cover therefor, a resilient spring clipl attached to said body, a switch operating lever, said clip being adapted to engage and fasten both said cover and said lever.

2. A switch box comprising a box body, a movable cover therefor, a resilient `spring clip attached to said body, a switch operating lever, said clip being provided with a portion for engaging and retaining said cover in closed position and a bulged portion intermediate its ends adapted to embrace the said operating lever to lock the same.

3. A switch box comprising a box body, a movable cover therefor, a switch operating lever, a spring clip attached to the body and normally lying adjacent thereto and adapted to be flexed away from said body to permit the said lever to be moved between the said body and clip when so flexed, said clip being provided with a bnlged portion toembrace the said lever.

4. A Switch box comprising a box body, a movable cover therefor, a switch operating lever, said body being provided with a depressed portion, a spring clip mounted in said depressed portion and adapted to be sprung away from the box to permit the switch lever to be passed between the body and clip, said clip being provided with a bulged portion for encircling the switch lever to lock the same and means on the said clip for retaining the said cover in closed position.

5.. A switch box comprising a box body, a movable cover therefor, a switch operating lever, said body being provided with a depressed portion, a spring clip mounted in said depressed portion and projecting through an opening in said cover, means on said projecting portion cooperating with the cover for holding it closed, said clip be ing adapted to be fiexed away from the box body to permit the passage of the switch lever between the body and clip and provided witha bulged portion for embracing the said lever to lo'clr the same, and locking means coacting with the said clip for preventing opening of the box cover.

6. A switch box comprising a box body` a movable cover therefor, a switch operating lever, a spring clip attached to the body and normally lying adjacent thereto and adapted to be sprung away from said body to permit the Said lever to be moved between the said body and clip when so sprung, the said clip being provided with a bulged portion to embrace the said lever to positively lock the same when the cover is closed, said bulged portion also serving as a limiting stop for the switch lever when not embraced by said bulged portion.

7. A switch box comprising a box body, a movable cover therefor, a switch operating lever, a spring clip attached at one end of the body and normally lying adjacent thereto and adapted to be iiexed away from said body to permit the said lever to be moved between the said body and clip when so flexed, said clip being provided with .a bulged portion to embrace the said lever to retain the switch in open position, a second spring clip similar to said first mentioned clip at the opposite end of the body and adapted to retain the switch in open position upon the reversal of the mounting of the switch parts within the said body.

In testimony whereof, I sign my name.

BENJAMIN B. XVHITE.

Witnesses: L. J. ARMSTRONG,

M. G. MULLEN. 

